Synthesis of substituted 4-(1H-indol-6-yl)-1H-indazoles as potential PDK1 inhibitors

The development of a preparative route to a series of novel 4-(1H-indol-6-yl)-1H-indazole compounds as potential PDK1 inhibitors is described. The synthetic strategy centres on the late-stage Suzuki cross-coupling of N-unprotected indazole and indole fragments. The use of a monoligated palladium catalyst system was found to be highly beneficial in the cross-coupling reaction. The indazole and indole fragments were constructed by diazotisation/cyclisation and SNAr/reductive cyclisation sequences, respectively.